Chapter 3: The Biological Bases of Behavior

Communication in the Nervous System Hardware: –Glia – structural support and insulation –Neurons – communication –Soma – cell body –Dendrites – receive –Axon – transmit away

Windows Mac OS X Neuron and Neural Impulse

Figure 3.1 Structure of the neuron

Neural Communication: Insulation and Information Transfer Myelin sheath – speeds up transmission Terminal Button – end of axon; secretes neurotransmitters Neurotransmitters – chemical messengers Synapse – point at which neurons interconnect

The Neural Impulse: Electrochemical Beginnings Hodgkin & Huxley (1952) - giant squid –Fluids inside and outside neuron –Electrically charged particles (ions) –Neuron at rest – negative charge on inside compared to outside –-70 millivolts – resting potential

The Neural Impulse: The Action Potential Stimulation causes cell membrane to open briefly Positively charged sodium ions flow in Shift in electrical charge travels along neuron The Action Potential All – or – none law

The Synapse: Chemicals as Signal Couriers Synaptic cleft: space between nuerons

Figure 3.3 The synapse

When a Neurotransmitter Binds: The Postsynaptic Potential Positive voltage shift – excitatory PSP: Negative voltage shift – inhibitory PSP

Figure 3.4 Overview of synaptic transmission

Signals: From Postsynaptic Potentials to Neural Networks One neuron, signals from thousands of other neurons Requires integration of signals –PSPs add up, balance out –Balance between IPSPs and EPSPs Neural networks –Patterns of neural activity –Interconnected neurons that fire together or sequentially

Signals: From Postsynaptic Potentials to Neural Networks Synaptic connections –Elimination and creation: we have more synapses than we need and we eliminate those we don’t need. –Synaptic pruning: gradual elimination of less active synapses

Figure 3.5 Synaptic pruning

Neurotransmitters Specific neurotransmitters work at specific synapses –Lock and key mechanism Agonist – mimics neurotransmitter action Antagonist – opposes action of a neurotransmitter 15 – 20 neurotransmitters known at present Interactions between neurotransmitter circuits

Table 3.1 Common Neurotransmitters and Some of their Functions

Organization of the Nervous System Central nervous system (CNS): the brain and spinal cord Peripheral nervous system: all other nerves –Somatic nervous system –Autonomic nervous system (ANS) Sympathetic: fight or flight Parasympathetic: conserves energy resources

Figure 3.6 Organization of the human nervous system

Figure 3.7 The central and peripheral nervous systems

Figure 3.8 The autonomic nervous system (ANS)

Studying the Brain: Research Methods Electroencephalography (EEG) Damage studies/lesioning Electrical stimulation (ESB) Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) Brain imaging – –computerized tomography –positron emission tomography –magnetic resonance imaging

Brain Regions and Functions Hindbrain – vital functions – medulla, pons, and cerebellum Midbrain – sensory functions – dopaminergic projections, reticular activating system Forebrain – emotion, complex thought – thalamus, hypothalamus, limbic system, cerebrum, cerebral cortex

The Cerebrum: Two Hemispheres, Four Lobes Cerebral Hemispheres – two specialized halves connected by the corpus collosum –Left hemisphere – verbal processing: language, speech, reading, writing –Right hemisphere – nonverbal processing: spatial, musical, visual recognition

The Cerebrum: Two Hemispheres, Four Lobes Four Lobes: –Occipital – vision –Parietal - somatosensory –Temporal - auditory –Frontal – movement, executive control systems

Windows Mac OS X Right Brain/Left Brain

Figure 3.16 Structures and areas in the human brain

Figure 3.18 The cerebral hemispheres and the corpus callosum

Figure 3.19 The cerebral cortex in humans

Figure 3.20 The primary motor cortex

Figure 3.21 Language processing in the brain

Genes and Behavior: The Field of Behavioral Genetics Behavioral genetics = the study of the influence of genetic factors on behavioral traits Chromosomes – strands of DNA carrying genetic information –Human cells contain 46 chromosomes in pairs (sex-cells – 23 single) –Each chromosome – thousands of genes, also in pairs Dominant, recessive Homozygous, heterozygous Genotype/Phenotype and Polygenic Inheritance

Figure 3.25 Genetic material

Research Methods in Behavioral Genetics Family studies – does it run in the family? Twin studies – compare resemblance of identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins on a trait Adoption studies – examine resemblance between adopted children and their biological and adoptive parents

Figure 3.27 Genetic relatedness

Figure 3.28 Family studies of risk for schizophrenic disorders

Figure 3.30 Twin studies of intelligence and personality

Modern Approaches to the Nature vs. Nurture Debate Molecular Genetics = the study of the biochemical bases of genetic inheritance –Genetic mapping – locating specific genes - The Human Genome Project Behavioral Genetics –The interactionist model –Richard Rose (1995) – “We inherit dispositions, not destinies.”

Evolutionary Psychology: Behavior in Terms of Adaptive Significance Based on Darwin’s ideas of natural selection –Reproductive success key Adaptations – behavioral as well as physical –Fight-or-flight response –Taste preferences –Parental investment and mating